Abbotsford International Airshow

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The Canadian Snowbirds on the "Hotline" at the Abbotsford Airshow 2000

The Abbotsford International Airshow is held annually on the second Friday, Saturday and Sunday in August at Abbotsford International Airport in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada.

It is Canada's largest airshow.^{[citation needed]} In the mid 1970s, Abbotsford was designated as Canada's National Airshow by Prime Minister Pierre E. Trudeau. It features both military and civilian aircraft from Canada and the United States, and on occasion military aircraft from other countries such as Britain, Germany (2000), and Russia.

The average annual attendance of 125,000+ people makes it the largest air show on the West Coast of North America.

[edit] History

MiG-29 fighter parked on the ramp after a demonstration flight at the Abbotsford Air Show, 1989.

The Airshow was started in 1962 by the Abbotsford Flying Club. The show is now operated by the Abbotsford International Airshow Society.

The show experienced continuous growth through the 60s and 70s.

The 1986 show was conducted in conjunction with Expo 86, the Vancouver World's fair. This saw the inclusion of several European teams like the Patrouille de France and the Frecce Tricolori to the traditional participants.

In 1989, the show set a three-day attendance record of 321,000 people. Post Cold War defence cuts affected the attendance of military teams and aircraft throughout the 1990s. Poor financial management resulted in the annual show being canceled in 1998 and returning in 1999.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2002 was a significant accomplishment; it was a milestone year while airshows across North America were threatened with cancellation due to high insurance costs after 9/11.

Due to the increased commercialization of the Abbotsford International Airport, officials have suggested 2015 as the last year of the airshow, give or take a few years.

[edit] Announcers

Bob Singleton, now retired, continues to be the main announcer at the Abbotsford International Airshow. The 2008 airshow is Bob's 39th year announcing at Abbotsford. Originally, he was the assistant to Abbotsford's first narrator, Toby Trowbridge.

Roy Hafeli provides the other familiar voice of the airshow. Roy began announcing at Abbotsford in 1999, and is a recipient of the North West Council of Air Shows 2005 Showmanship award and the 2006 Eric Beard Memorial Spirit of Flight award. Roy also announces at many other airshows throughout Canada as well as at other special events.